Calendar and the like



March 8, 1938. H. JANSSEN CALENDAR AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 50. 1935 2 Sheets-$11661. l

Firs-Ed- UR "m" IN VEN TOR Hem Jivmssan,

A TTORNEY.

8, 1938. JANSSEN CALENDAR AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1935 F1 E ..E

INVENTOR.

J'Mzyhmsan; 1% 63 ATTORNE Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE CALENDAR AND THE LIKE Application January 30, 1935, Serial No. 4,005

18 Claims.

In the case of those perpetual calendars in which the various indicating units are independently operable, the positioning or placing of the index manipulating members has been so conspicuous as well as so inept as to destroy the symmetrical appearance and consequently, the aesthetic appeal to the intended purchaser or user of the device.

One object of my invention is to produce a perpetual calendar of novel construction, and one in which the above recited detrimental features are obviated.

It is also an object of this invention to produce a device of this type which is simple and durable in construction, and which can be cheaply manufactured.

Another object is to provide a device of this character with a novel arrangement of control members which can be quickly and easily operated.

A further object is to provide, in such a device, means to simultaneously yieldingly position one or more rotative calendar units and fixedly de termine the axial positioning of said units.

Still another object of this invention is to pro-.- vide a novel perpetual calendar, presenting a symmetrical, carefully balanced appearance to the eye, and one having a relatively smooth contour with no exposed awkward moving parts, and a certain part, or parts, of which may be either stamped or cast in metal or even pressed or cast from any one of a number of phenolic condensation products, thereby further enhancing its artistic as well as utilitarian advantages. With this in mind, other and further attendant advantages will be possible by providing for the accessory utilitarian elements of pen or pencil holding grooves, and the like, in connection with additionally suggested uses.

With these and other objects in View which will readily become apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section, looking from the front, and taken on a line passing through the axis of the device;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is also a vertical transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 5, taken, however, on the line 6-4, Fig. 4.; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the date-indicating indices or drums removed from the casing, with a portion broken away and in section to more clearly disclose its construction.

For purposes of convenience and in order to more clearly bring out some of the various advantages of this invention, it is hereinafter described as substantially consisting of a cast plastic or phenolic condensation product, but it will be understood that the method of operation of the device and the utility thereof is equally ei fective when cast or pressed from other materials, such for example, as metal.

In all of the drawings, corresponding parts have been similarly numbered, the respective numbers being duplicated in order to indicate similar elements and in order that they may more clearly indicate the relationships and facilitate the association of those parts in the clifierent drawings wherein the embodiments herein are specifically described.

The embodiment of the invention herein illustrated comprises a unitary base structure containing a cylindrical housing for telescopically and rotatably supporting a plurality of date-indieating drums or character wheels juxtaposed in end-to-end relationship. The drums are manually operable by means of respective knurled knob members positioned at the extremities of the drum housing. These drums or indices have a distinctive series of date-indicating characters either formed on or aflixed to their respective peripheries. The date-indicating characters of each series are successively visible through suitable window openings or sight apertures formed in the cylindrical portion of the housing shell. These characters are changed by manipulation of the respective knob members. Individual knobs, or the like, are associated with each of the dateindi'cating drums to permit independent manipulation thereof, while spring-actuated detents are utilized for cooperation with notched indentations and grooves of suitable annular configuration cut in the periphery of the drums in order to more accurately and fixedly position the index cylinders in their housing.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention comprises a unitary base structure It! in which a pen and/or pencil receiving groove I2 is formed, and which likewise includes a hollow cylindrical opening i3, Fig. 5, which provides a housing for telescopically supporting the rotary date-designating cylindrical index units generally indicated at M and 15, Fig. 4.

The right calendar unit designated by numeral l5 comprises a pair of drums l6 and I"! which are fixedly connected to and each individually operated by the knurled knobs l8 and i9, respectively. The knobs may, most conveniently, be positioned co-axially adjacent each other, as at the right end of the cylindrical housing 13 of base structure l8, Fig. l. The knob i9 is rigidly secured either by frictional support or other engagement to the drum [1, whereas the knob i8 is connected to the drum It by means of an intermediate axial stud or driving shaft 22, one end of which may be imbedded or threaded into the knob i8, while its other end is secured to the drum it by nut 23, washer 24 and a spacer sleeve 25. The sleeve 25 loosely telescopes the stud 22 and is provided for spacing the drum 5 sufficiently from the knob 48 to allow the drums l5 and IT to rotate independently. Date-designating wrappers 26, are tautly drawn over the outside of cylindrical drums 56, l? and are maintained in annular recessed or grooved portions 2'! and 28 which are formed on the outer surfaces of the drums it and Ill respectively, substantially as illustrated in connection with the drum l6, Fig. '7. The ends of the wrapper 26 are inserted into the hollow interior of the drum it through an open slot 29, and are securely clamped against the inner surface of the drum 56 by an expander ring or spring clip 30. A spring-pressed detent 32 carried by the base it, Figs. 4 and 6, cooperates with an annular groove 33 in the drum ll to fix the axial position of the drum l! and indirectly of unit l5 relative to the cylindrical housing l3 of the base it, while still allowing the drums l6 and H to rotate freely about their common axis. In addition, a series of detent-receiving openings 3% are formed in the base of the groove 33 and equally spaced, in sequence, corresponding to the spacing of the printed characters on the drum wrapper 26, for successively seating the resilient spring-pressed detent 32. This provides means for accurately fixing the rotational position of the drum I! by equal operative movements of its associated knob. A ball detent 35, Figs. 4 and 5, somewhat similarly coacts with complementary notches 36 in the drum it for accurately fixing the rotational positioning of this drum coincident with the day-by-day movement of successive date-designating characters into alignment with the sight aperture or window 31. The detents 32 and 35 are resiliently biased into engagement with their respective drums by individual springs 33. The amount of biasing action is controlled by set screws 3% carried by the base H3, Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The detents 32 and 35, by suitable adjustment, are particularly adapted to prevent accidental rotation of their immediately associated calendar drums.

The windows or sight apertures 3| and 31, formed in the base l0, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are provided for exposing successive printed characters, in the series carried by the drums l6 and I1, progressively into view, upon turning the respective knob members l8 and 19. The window openings or sight apertures 3! and 31 are preferably arranged in a position for the best possible visibility, giving a convenient selective observation of the symbols on the rotating drums. The number of spaced detent-receiving notches on each drum corresponds to the number of printed words or numeral characters on the drums; thus the spacing of the notches on each drum is directly proportionate to the spacing of the words or characters thereon. It is obvious that a definite alignment of the respective spring-pressed detents with successive detent-receiving notches is desirable coincident with the progressive positioning of the date-designating characters into alignment with their respective windows or apertures. The progressive seating of the detents by the notches in the drum simultaneously aids in the positioning of the drum and centralizes the date-designating characters relative to the respective index or symbol exposed in the windows.

A plate it, secured to the base ill by screw members 52, has a series of openings 43 formed therein which are respectively aligned with the spring-pressed detents 32 and 35. The openings 43 permit the adjustment of the detent control screws 39 without necessitating the removal of plate 48. A felt pad 44 may, preferably, be secured to the plate lil, Figs. l, 5 and 6, to prevent scratching of the desk or supporting element upon which the calendar may rest.

Inasmuch as the left and right calendar units l4 and I5 embody identical features of construction and operate in a correspondingly similar manner, it is believed that the above description relating to the unit i5 will likewise suffice to enable those versed in the related arts to thoroughly understand the construction and operation of unit I4; however, in order to further assist one in understanding the entire invention, similar reference numerals have been employed to designate corresponding parts of each unit. Thus there are two center drums which are designated by the numeral l5, and two outer drums which are designated by the numeral ll. It follows that the left calendar unit Hi, see Fig. 4, includes the left end drum l1 and the left center drum l6, whereas the right calendar unit l5 comprises the right center drum l6 and the right end drum IT. The right center drum it of unit i5 is illustrated in Fig. 7.

As previously stated an end of the pin detent 32 acts as a position determining device in cooperation with the notches 34 of the drum 5'! for definitely fixing the rotative positioning of the drum l1 and preventing any accidental rotation of the drum. At the same time, the body portion of the pin 32 cooperates with the sides of the annular groove or guide track 33 of the drum I! to fix the axial position of the unit 5. The ball detent 35 cooperates with complementary notches 3% formed or cut in the drum IE to independently determine the position of the drum l6 and prevent its accidental rotation.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as depicted in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, index characters one to zero, inclusive, are printed on a Wrapper or indicator sheet 26 secured to the drum l6 and are successively visible through the window 31 upon turning of the knob Hi. The drum it of unit M, Fig. 4, may have thereon the numbers one to zero inclusive, also, although, it is preferable that numbers one to three, inclusive, be used as these alone are necessary. The numbers are successively aligned with the window 3i, Fig. 3, upon manipulating its corresponding knob H3. The characters on the drum 16 of unit it are changed every tenth day and are used for indicating the first digit of compound numbered days, a blank space being aligned with window 3'! during the first nine days of each month. The characters on the drum it of unit l 5 are progressively employed to designate dates from the first to the ninth day of the month, following which they are progressively employed to indicate. the second digit of the compound numbers employed to indicate the dates from the tenth to the last day of the month. Thus one drum l6, e. g. that of unit it, is used independently of the other drum e. g. that of unit i l, to indicate the days of the month from the first to the ninth thereof, and both drums it are used in combination to indicate the dates from the tenth to the end of the month. The months of the year, indicated on a wrapper secured to the drum ll of unit it, are successively visible through the window 3! upon manipulation of the corresponding knob i9. The days of the week which are indicated on a wrapper carried by the drum ll of unit l5 are successively brought into alignment with the window 3i upon manipulation of the associated knob ill.

The invention has been described in specific terms, but, the details of structure may be varied Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

'Thus, this invention is not limited to any particular method of, or product for, forming the base, and, as is obvious to those familiar with the re lated art, a number of striking and beautiful hues and color combinations are possible and can be produced consistently in the finished product by casting the article with any one of a number of phenolic or other condensation products. The result is an enhanced and very striking, as well as a very different and more useful, product than any heretofore possible.

I claim:

1. A desk calendar comprising a base structure, a drum member rotatably mounted in said base structure, an annular grooved structure in the surface of said drum member, a series of detentreceiving openings formed coextensive with the base of said grooved structure, and a double-acting detent member associated with said base structure and coacting with the detent-receiving openings and with the annular grooved structure for defining the rotative positioning of the drum and securing it against axial movement.

2. A rotary calendar comprising a base, a cylindrical housing in the base, a plurality of sight openings in the housing, a drum rotatably positioned under each opening, means for rotating each drum, an annular groove in the surface of certain of said drums, notches coextensive with the bottom of each groove, and a resilient pawl for each drum secured to the base for cooperation with the notches and the groove of the associated drum.

3. A rotary calendar comprising a base, a cylindrical housing in the base, a plurality of sight openings in the housing, a plurality of axially aligned rotatable drums, each drum individual to one opening for displaying a portion of the drum surface, telescopically mounted driving members co-axial with the drums and with each other, each individual to one of the drums, for selectively rotating the same, annular notches in each drum, and a resilient pawl for each drum secured to the base for cooperation with the notches in its associated drum, and an annular groove in each of the end drums, coextensive with the notches thereof and engaged by the associated pawl for preventing axial movement or" the plurality of drums.

4. A perpetual calendar comprising a unitary base structure, an open-ended cylindrical housing in said base structure, a drum rotatably mounted in the housing operative through means secured thereto, an aperture in the base, a series of openings in the surface of the drum successively operative to seat a spring-pressed detent carried by the base, a wrapper on the drum with a progression of date-indicating characters formed thereon successively visible through the aperture upon rotation of the drum, and an opening in the periphery of the drum for introducing opposite ends of the wrapper from the exterior to the interior of the drum.

5. In combination, a hollow base structure, a drum member rotatably mounted in the base, an aperture in said base, a date-designating wrapper on said drum with a progression of date-designating characters formed thereon successively visible through the aperture upon rotation of the drum, an opening in the periphery of the drum for introducing opposite ends of the wrapper from the exterior to the interior of the drum, and an expander ring within the drum for clamping the ends of the wrapper to the interior of the drum to tautly maintain the date-designating portion around the outer surface thereof.

6. A perpetual calendar comprising a unitary base structure, an open-ended cylindrical housing in the base, a drum rotatably supported by the housing, manually operable means for the drum forming a closure for the end of the housing, a drum exposing Window in the base, a series of openings in the exterior of the drum, a datedesignating wrapper with a series of date-designating characters on said drum, a spring-pressed detent carried by the base cooperating with the openings in the drum to centralize the date designating characters relative to the window, an opening in the exterior of the drum for introducing the ends of the. wrapper from the exterior to the interior thereof, and an expander ring Within the drum for clamping the ends of the wrapper to the interior of the drum to tautly maintain the date-designating portion around the outer surface thereof.

7. A perpetual calendar including a unitary base structure, an open-ended cylindrical housing in the base, a calendar unit rotatably supported in the housing comprising a pair of drum members in endto-end relationship, independent operating means for each of the drums combinedly effecting an end closure for the housing, Wrappers for the drums, series of date-designating characters respectively carried by the drums, windows in the housing for each of the drums through which the date-designating characters are progressively visible upon rotation of the operating means, detent-receiving openings spaced about the periphery of the drum in accordance with the spacing of the date-designating characters on the Wrapper thereof, spring-pressed detents carried by the base and cooperating with the detent-receiving openings for acoentuating the positioning of the drums and centralizing the date-designating characters relative to the respective windows upon movement of the operating means, and means carried by the base for defining the axial positioning of the calendar unit.

8. A perpetual calendar including a unitary base structure, an open-ended cylindrical housing in the base, a pair of calendar units rotatably mounted in the housing respectively comprising a pair of drums positioned in end-to-end relationship, independent operating means for the drums of each unit respectively effecting end closures for opposite ends of the housing, windows in the base structure for each of said drums, wrappers for the drums with series of date-designating characters spacedly inscribed thereon, an opening in each of the drums for introducing the ends of the wrappers to the inside of the drums, expander rings carried by the drums for clamping the ends of the wrappers to the interior of the drums, spring-pressed detents in said base structure, detent-receiving openings in the drums spaced at regular intervals corresponding tothe spacing of the date-designating characters and cooperating with the detents for accentuating successive rotative positions of the drums to centralize the date-designating characters relative to the windows, and annular grooves in certain of said drums cooperating with respective detents for defining the axial positioning of the calendar units.

9. A perpetual desk calendar including in combination, a unitary base structure, an openended cylindrical housing in the base structure, a pair of calendar units rotatably mounted in said housing separately comprising pairs of axially aligned drums, wrappers for the drums with series of date-designating characters spacedly inscribed thereon, windows for the drums in the base structure, means secured to the drums for operating the latter, spring-pressed detents carried by the base and coacting with suitable openings in the drums to accentuate the axial positioning of the calendar units and centralize the date-designating characters in line with the windows, expander rings for anchoring the ends of the wrappers to the inner surface of the drums, and a pen and pencil receiving groove in the base structure.

10. A device of the character described, comprising a casing having a wall sight opening, a rotatable hollow drum in the casing having an axially extending slot through the wall thereof, a ribbon like indicia bearing drum wrapper wrapped taut about the drum with opposite ends inserted through said slot and at least one of which is return bent on the inside of the drum, said wrapper being adapted for rotation with the drum for selectively placing its indicia opposite said sight opening means, and an expansion ring in the drum holding said wrapper ends against the inside of the drum.

11. A device of the character described, comprising a casing having wall sight opening means, a plurality of axially aligned cup-like elements in the casing carrying indicia. for selective placing opposite the sight opening means, one of said cups having its closed and next to the open end of another and the closed end of the latter being next to an opening in a wall of the casing, and operating means including coaxially related elements each extending through said casing wall opening and one extending through the closed end of said other cup to the closed end of said one cup.

12. A device of the character described, comprising a casing having wall sight opening means,

a plurality of axially aligned cup-like elements in the casing carrying indicia for selective placing opposite the sight opening means, one of said cups having its closed end next to the open end of another and the closed end of the latter being next to an opening in a wall of the casing, and operating means including coaxially related elements each extending through said casing wall opening and one extending through the closed end of said other cup to the closed end of said one cup, means acting axially through said other cup for securing said one operating means to said one cup, and spacer means extending axially through said other cup cooperating with the closed end of said one cup and with said securing means for determining the axial positions of the cups relative to each other.

13. In a device of the character described, a casing element of open end cylinder like form having side wall sight opening means, a rotatable element in said casing element carrying indicia for selective placing opposite the sight opening means, and combined means for closing an open end of said casing element, operating said rotatable element and holding the combined means, the casing element and said rotatable element together, comprising axially opposite shoulders on one of said elements about the axis of rotation of said rotatable indicia element, a member on the other of said elements radially overlapping said shoulders for holding the indicia element against axial movement in both directions relative to the casing element, a disk like operating handle for the indicia element covering said open end of the casing element, and means for holding said combined operating handie and cover to the indicia element.

14. In a device of the character described, a base member, an indicia member rotatably journaled on the base member, means for operating the indicia member, and double acting means for simultaneously holding the indicia member azdally in both directions while providing for rotation thereof and for slip releasably holding the indicia member in spring biased accentuated position in any selected indicating position about the axis thereof, said double acting means comprising axially opposite shoulders on one of said members about said axis, and an element on the other of said members radially overlapping said shoulders for holding the indicia member against axial movement in both directions and providing for rotation thereof, said element also constituting a detent having spring biased slip releasable cooperation with notches in said shouldered member for holding the indicia member in any se-- lected indicating position to which the indicia member is rotated.

15. In a device of the character described, a base member, an indicia member rotatably journaled on the base member and carrying an operating handle, and double acting means for simultaneously holding the indicia member axially in both directions While providing for rotation thereof and for slip releasably holding the indicia member in spring biased accentuated position in any selected indicating position about the axis thereof, comprising axially opposite shoulders on one of said members about said axis, an element on the other of said members radially overlapping said shoulders for holding the indicia member against axial movement in both directions and providing for rotation thereof, and spring detent and notch element means having one of its elements on said holding element and the other on said one member for holding the indicia member in any selected indicating position to which the indicia member is rotated.

16. A device of the character described, comprising a casing portion of open end cylinder like form having side Wall sight opening means, a plurality of elements in the casing movable relative to each other and to the casing and carrying indicia for selective placing opposite the sight opening means, and combined means for closing an end of said casing portion and operating said elements including a plurality of coaxially related operating members operatively connected through said end to said elements in the easing, respectively, and embodying a plurality of handles in the form of disks stacked directly one on another accessible at a single hand operating position outside the casing-next to said open end, said stacked disk handles thereby providing for single hand selective operation by maintaining the operators hand in one position and shifting fingers from positions spaced about the periphery of one of said disk handles to positions spaced about the periphery of another of said disk handles, one of said disks next to the casing portion being of a diameter comparable to the diameter of the casing portion and constituting a direct closure element for said open end and another of said disks being of smaller diameter than said closure element disk disposed outside the casing portion adjacent to said closure element disk.

17. A device of the character described, comprising a casing portion of open end cylinder like form having side Wall sight opening means, a plurality of elements in the casing movable relative to each other and to the casing and carrying indicia for selective placing opposite the sight opening means, and combined means for closing an end of said casing portion and operating said elements including a plurality of coaxially related operating members operatively connected through said end to said elements in the casing, respectively, and embodying a plurality of handles in the form of disks stacked directly one on another accessible at a single hand operating position outside the casing next to said open end, said stacked disk handles thereby providing for single hand selective operation by maintaining the operators hand in one position and shifting fingers from positions spaced about the periphery of one of said disk handles to positions spaced about the periphery of another of said disk handles, one of said disks next to the casing portion being of a diameter comparable to the dameter of, and constituting a direct closure element for, said open end and having a concave outer side face, and another of said disks being of smaller diameter and disposed partially Within said concave outer side face.

18. A device of the character described, comprising a casing portion having Wall sight opening means, a plurality of elements in the casing movable relative to each other and to the casing and carrying indicia for selective placing opposite the sight opening means, and semiautomatic means for actuating said elements including a plurality of coaxially related operating members operatively connected to said elements in the casing, respectively, and embodying a plurality of handles in closely adjacent positions relative to each other accessible at a single hand operating position outside the casing, said handles thereby providing for single hand selective operation by maintaining the operators hand in one position and shifting fingers from one of said handles to another, and means responsive to said hand operation for rendering the latter effective including spring biased detent means operating between the casing and each of said relatively movable indicia elements for automatically efiecting the final movements of the operating members independently of the operators hand to the selected indicating positions and slip-releasably holding the operating members in said selected indicating positions, certain of said spring biased detent means operating to prevent axial displacement of said indicia elements.

HENRY JANSSEN. 

